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Ex-Catholic Central teacher, football coach guilty of sexual battery on student

Today, Catholic Central is still located on the site, however, it has been added onto recently to include elementary and middle school. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Credit: Bill Lackey

Credit: Bill Lackey

Today, Catholic Central is still located on the site, however, it has been added onto recently to include elementary and middle school. BILL LACKEY/STAFF
News
By
Jan 8, 2025
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A former Catholic Central High School teacher pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual battery against a student from January 2017 to May 2018 at a hearing Friday in Springfield.

Michael McKenna, 62, pleaded guilty to the third-degree felonies, while three additional charges were dismissed, according to Assistant Clark County Prosecutor Alice DeWine. McKenna will have to register as a sex offender for life and faces up to 10 years in prison.

According to court documents, the incidents took place between Jan. 1, 2017 and May 24, 2018, and involved a high school student, at times when McKenna was between 54 and 56 years old.

McKenna was fired from his position as high school social studies teacher after Springfield police contacted the school and informed them of the charges. McKenna was indicted in March 2024.

The former teacher was also the football coach at Catholic Central for four seasons up to 2019, and coached track and field as well.

The News-Sun sought comment from McKenna or his attorney, but did not receive a response.

McKenna will be sentenced at a 10 a.m. hearing Feb. 3.

Michael McKenna, former teacher and coach at Springfield's Catholic Central High School, pleaded guilty to sexual battery involving a student on Jan. 3, 2025, dating to offenses from 2017-18.

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About the Author

Jessica Orozco covers crime, courts, government and more in Clark County for the Springfield-News Sun. She previously covered crime and courts for The Lima News, and before that, Orozco interned at The Columbus Dispatch on the metro desk. Orozco has a bachelor of arts in journalism from Ohio State University, from where she graduated in May 2022.